LTSC Sleep Apnoea Program
LTSC is committed to the Health and Wellbeing of its members and the drivers within the Log Transport Sector.
This commitment has touched on various areas of health and wellbeing through different programs it has run such as Fit for the Road.
An area of concern for all drivers, the general public and all industries for that matter is Sleep Apnea.
LTSC have partnered with Fit for Duty and Alert at Work to bring the membership easy access to sleep apnoea testing at a subsidised rate. Fit for Duty and Alert at Work both believe the screening and treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a critical part of and fatigue mitigation program in the 24/7 sector. Therefore they offer a complete turn-key service for the diagnosis and treatment of OSA in the commercial transport sector.
Please see the resources below for more information on the LTSC Sleep Apnoea Program
What is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life- threatening condition that is far more common than is generally understood. It is a breathing disorder characterised by pauses in breath during sleep and nightly snoring. The effect of OSA is that a person can stop breathing for periods of time when asleep. These interruptions (apneas), which can last for up to 10 seconds or more, occur when the airway narrows so much that it closes. This stops breathing, and the brain reacts by briefly waking the subject, making proper sleep impossible, resulting in sleepiness and impairment of daytime (work time) function.
What are the effects?
Interrupted sleep patterns, those with OSA rarely have restorative sleep, manifesting in some of the following problem:
- 40% increase in excessive daytime sleepiness
- Twice as many traffic accidents per KM
- Threefold risk of occupational accidents
- 1.3 to 2.5 times more hypertension
- 2.2 times increased risk of nocturnal cardiac arrhythmia
- 3.0 times more likely to have congestive heart failure
- 1.4-2.3 times greater risk of heart attack
- 40% increased risk of depression
- Australian research has shown that up to 41% of commercial drivers are likely to have obstructive sleep apnea.